The original Gaelic form of Martin was Mac Giolla Mhartain. This name denotes a devotee of St. Martin. This saint founded the first monastery in France c. 360 and was made Bishop of Tours in 372. He is the patron saint of publicans and inn-keepers and is also a patron saint of France.

Early Origins of the Martin family

The surname Martin was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172, and became one of the "Tribes of Galway." Kilmartin is a small village in Argyll and Bute, in western Scotland. It is best known as the center of Kilmartin Glen, one of the best examples of standing stones in Scotland. Kilmartin Castle, a small tower house, dating from about 1580, stands above the village and was the property of the Campbells.

Early History of the Martin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Martin research.Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1652, 1722, 1600 and 1648 are included under the topic Early Martin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Early Notables of the Martin family (pre 1700)

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Martin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Martin family to the New World and Oceana

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Martin:

Martin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Martin, who settled in Virginia in 1606

Christopher Martin and his wife Mary, who arrived in America on the "Mayflower" in 1620

Martin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Adam Martin, who landed in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1782 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Martin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Martin, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Barbara Martin, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Andrew Martin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

James Martin, who arrived in New York in 1820

August, Edmond and Belfort Saint Martin, who settled in New Orleans in 1820

Mr. Andrew Martin U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Penobscot Association [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X

Mr. James Martin U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X

Samuel Martin, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia[3]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809

Daniel Martin, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia[4]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817

William Martin, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia[4]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817

Joseph Martin, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia[5]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820

James Martin, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia[6]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820

Contemporary Notables of the name Martin (post 1700)

Sir George Martin (1926-2016), English six-time Grammy Award winning music producer, best known for his work with the "Beatles,"sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"; for 37 straight weeks one of Martin's recordings topped the British charts in 1963

Thomas Commerford Martin (1856-1924), English-born, American electrical engineer and editor; he was associated with Thomas A. Edison in his work in 1877–1879 and was executive secretary of the National Electric Light Association, and in 1900–1911

Esmond Bradley Martin (1941-2018), American conservationist from New York City who fought for the preservation of the rhinoceros and against the illegal trade of rhinoceros horns; he was found dead with a stab wound to his neck in Nairobi, Kenya

James Douglas Martin (1918-2017), American businessman and Republican politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama (1965-1967)

James Everett Martin (1932-2017), American educator, President of Auburn University (1984–1992)

Jared Christopher Martin (1941-2017), American film and television actor, best known for his role as Steven "Dusty" Farlow in the 1978 series Dallas

Boyce Ficklen Martin Jr. (1935-2016), American jurist, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1996-2003)

Historic Events for the Martin family

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Sarah Jane Martin (1914-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash

Bismarck

Rudolf Martin (1920-2004), German Maschinengefreiter serving aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking [8]CITATION[CLOSE]Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details

Mrs. Emma Martin (1861-1914), née Payne Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [9]CITATION[CLOSE]Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html

Flight TWA 800

Mrs. Betty Ruth Martin (1927-1996), from Belleville, Illinois, USA, American passenger flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash [10]CITATION[CLOSE]Antarctic Homestead, Operation Deep Freeze the New Zealand Story, Retrieved 2018 February 21st, http://antarctic.homestead.com/901.html

Mr. Basil Martin, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the explosion [11]CITATION[CLOSE]Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance

HMS Dorsetshire

David Martin (d. 1945), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [13]CITATION[CLOSE]Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html

Mr. William R Martin (b. 1915), English Sergeant serving for the Royal Marine from Cheddleton, Leek, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the sinking [14]CITATION[CLOSE]H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

Mr. Thomas G Martin (b. 1914), Welsh Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the sinking [14]CITATION[CLOSE]H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

Mr. John W Martin (b. 1924), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Ryde, Isle of Wight, England, who sailed into battle and died in the sinking [14]CITATION[CLOSE]H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm

Mr. William Martin, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking [15]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html

Mr. Frederick J Martin, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking [15]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html

Mr. Francis John Martin, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and died in the sinking [15]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html

Mr. William Martin (b. 1917), British, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and died in the sinking [16]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html

Mr. Edgar Martin, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking [16]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html

HMS Royal Oak

R. Martin, British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [17]CITATION[CLOSE]Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

Frederick A. Martin, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [17]CITATION[CLOSE]Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

Leonard George Martin (1923-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [17]CITATION[CLOSE]Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

Horace James Martin (1920-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [17]CITATION[CLOSE]Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

Edward James Martin (d. 1939), British Midshipman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [17]CITATION[CLOSE]Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

Noel George Martin (1961-1988), Jamaican Passenger from Clapton, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died [18]CITATION[CLOSE]Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html

Mr. Albert Martin, English Leading Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania and survived the sinking [19]CITATION[CLOSE]Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

Suggested Readings for the name Martin

Colonial Pioneers: Martin and Bell Families and their Kin by Mary Coates Martin.

Deacon John Burnham of Ipswich and Ebenezeer Martin of Rehoboth, Massachusetts by Elisabeth Puckett Martin.

The Martin Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Auxilium meum a dominoMotto Translation: My help is from the Lord.

Citations

^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

^ State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809

^ State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817

^ State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820